Collapsible golf cart



Jan. 27, 1953 J. F. CHAMBERLIN 2,626,815

COLLAPSIBLE cow CART Filed May 16, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 1 (7655? F 63m #3577; m M I? Jo /my Jan. 27, 1953 J. F. CHAMBERLIN 2,526,815

COLLAPSIBLE sou CART Filed May 16,1947 6 Sheets-Sheet z,

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COLLAPSIBLE GOLF CART Filed May 16, 1947 e sheets-sheet 3' Jan. 27, 1953 J. F; CHAMBERLIN coLLAPsrsflfi GOLF CART Filed May 16, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 JZfEPl/FCHAMBEFL m/ Jan. 27, 1953 J. F. CHAMBERLIN COLLAPSIBLE GOLF CART 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 16, 1947 27%772291 JZJJEPA F CAM/WHEEL m/ g M-ZU fiw zey Jan. 27, 1.953 .1. F. CHAMBERLIN COLLAPSIBLE- GOLF CART 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 16, 1947 Patented Jan. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE GOLF CART Joseph F. Chamberlin, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 16, 1947, Serial No. 748,525

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved golf cart and has for one of its principal objects the provision of a collapsible cart for carrying golf bags, golf clubs and similar appurtenances, and which cart will include principally a body portion, a pair of supporting wheels foldably mounted thereon, and a propelling handle also foldably mounted on the body.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a golf cart which will enable the ready and convenient transportation of a set of golf clubs, either with or without a containing bag, over a, golf course without the danger of upsetting and with a minimum expenditure of effort on the part of the player or other person using the cart.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a golf club carrying cart which can be readily and practically automatically folded into a small compass when not in use, so that it can be conveniently carried in an automobile or other means of transportation, or can be as conveniently stored without taking up a great deal of space. This last is of particular advantage when the carts are used in large numbers at golf courses or clubs.

Another and further important object of the invention resides in the provision of a golf cart which in addition to being collapsible, will have a flexible body which will absorb shocks and bumps when the cart is pulled or pushed over rough terrain.

Another object is to provide a golf cart which shall be sufficiently strong to withstand the roughest usage, yet light enough to enable its use by practically anyone, even women or children.

Other and further important objects will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved collapsible golf cart of this invention, illustrating a preferred form and indicating a supported golf bag in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the cart illustrated in Figure l, with the golf bag removed, and showing the collapsed or folded position of the wheels in dotted lines Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the cart shown in Figures 1 and 2, the handle being removed.

Figure 4 is a rear view somewhat similar to that of Figure 3, but showing the wheels in collapsed position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the 2 cart, part of the body broken away to foreshorten the figure.

Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in section, taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and illustrating diagrammatically the folding action of the wheels.

Figure '7 is a detailed section taken on the line 'l-'! of Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 8 illustrates a portion of the structure which enables folding of the wheels. I

Figure 9 is a detail view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail View, partly in section, on the line Iii-In of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a detail view of the manually operated latch for the operating arm, showing a, preferred form.

Figure 12 illustrates a modification of the collapsible wheel supporting structure, and shows the same in folded position.

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12, but showing the wheel supporting structure in open position.

Figure 14 is a side elevation of the modified construction shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a top view of the structure of Figures 12 to 14 inclusive, looking down on the hinged arrangement.

Figure 16 illustrates a third modification of the collapsible frame for the golf cart of this invention, and shows the same in closed position.

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 16, but showing the structure in open position.

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-I8 of Figure 19.

Figure 19 is a view of the structure of Figures 16 and 17, looking down from the top and showing the collapsed position of the wheel supports in dotted lines.

Figure 20 illustrates a still further modification of the collapsible wheel supporting structure for golf carts of this invention and shows the same in folded relationship.

Figure 21 is a view similar to Figure 20, but showing the structure in open position.

Figure 22 is an enlarged view of the structure of Figure 21, viewing the same from the reverse side and in more detail.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 24 indicates generally the body of the improved collapsible golf cart of this invention, the same being preferably a rather long narrow channel, as best shown in Figures 2 3 and 3, and this body, as well as most of the other parts of the structure, is constructed of some suitable material, of which a high grade aluminum alloy is an example.

Extending outwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the body portion 24, is a shelf or support 26, this being adapted to position a golf bag I28 thereon. The shelf or support 26, can be of any suitable contour and can be fastened to the lower end of the channel or body 2 in any desired manner.

Just above the support 26 and extending transversely of the channel 24, is a cross piece 28 having a pair of slots 30 adjacent each end. These slots are for the reception of the ends of a retaining strap or band 32 which is adapted to sur round the golf bag I28 at its lower end for securely positioning the same upon the golf cart.

A spring pressed manually operable clamping or gripping element 34, is mounted in the top of the body portion 24, this having a downward cushion-like extension 35 which fits inside the upper rim of the golf bag I28, and the spring normally impels the extension 38 into gripping relationship with the upper edge of the golf bag whereby the same is securely positioned at both ends. A handle 43 is provided for manual operation of this gripping element. The spring is indicated at 33.

Pivoted adjacent the upper end of the channellike body 24 is a rearwardly extending handle 52 whereby the cart is propelled either b pushing or pulling, and a retractable spring-pressed latch M is provided whereby the handle 42 can be locked in extended position as shown in Figure l, or easily released for a downward folding movement when the cart is to be collapsed.

A pair of supporting wheels 48 is mounted adjacent the lower end of the body and this mounting includes swingable axles 43 and supporting arms 50 together with operating links 52, whereby the wheels are automatically brought together in cart collapsed relationship when the handle 42 is brought downwardly.

The operating means for accomplishing this folding movement of the wheels includes a link or bar 54 connected at its upper end to a plate G (Figure 5) which is pivotally mounted at 58 upon a transverse shaft, which is fixed in the top of the body channel 24.

The lower end of this link rod 5% terminates in a pair'of pivoted plates best shown at B8 in Figure 10, and which operate as a unit. These plates are pivoted at 6| on a pin fixed in a casting 63 slidably mounted in the channel 24.

One end of this double plate 50 comprises a projection 55 which operates in an opening in a yoke structure, which is composed of a pair of plates 5! spaced apart at one end and joined into close proximity at the other end as shown at 59. A pair of pins 62 are fitted into the ends of the spaced-apart sections 51 of this yoke element.

Projections 64 integral with the wheel axle supporting arms 58, are fitted into the spaces between the pins 62 and the L shaped offset portions of the plates 51 and 59 whereby a movement of the yoke by the plate 60 will cause a pivoting of the arms 50 about their supporting pins 66, which pins are mounted in opposed projections 65 and 63 of a casting 63, which casting is slidably mounted in the bodychannel 24 and maintained therein by means of a pin it.

This pin is fitted into the opposed sides of the body channel and is mounted in slots 12 formed in opposed portions of the casting 63 whereby the casting with its supported arms '55,

4 52 and other appurtenances can move up and down in the channel 23 for a restricted predetermined distance.

The links or arms 52, which co-operate with the arms 50 have one end of each fixed in the casting 63 in a suitable opening provided therefor, and the other end is attached to the projecting end of an arm which forms part of the bell-crank 2-3, the other arm of which comprises the wheel supporting axle.

Adjacent the projections lid of the axle arms 56, is another pair of projections l3 vhich act as stops when the operating handle 52 is moved to its uppermost position as shown in Figure l, and which position results in a distending or separation of the wheels 5% into operative cart supporting position. These stops .73 act against integral projections l5, which form part of the casting 63.

When the handle 42 is pushed downwardly about its pivot 58 following the release or" the latch t l, the rod .14 moves upwardly pivoting the dual plate 6% about its supporting pin 6i (Figure 10). The lower end 55 of this plate Gil is accordingly moved outwardly through an are about the point 81 and this forces the yoke ill-53 outwardly. As the projections 64 of the arms 50 extend into this yoke adjacent the pins 62, the outward movement of the yoke swings the arms inwardly about their pivot pins 51 5, thereb bringing the wheels t5 into closer and folded relationship. The action of the supplemental arms or links 52 maintains the wheels in substantially parallel relationship while this folding action is taking place and after the arms 59 have been moved to their innermost limits, the casting 63 is then pulled upwardly by continued downward movement of the handle :2, raising the wheels slightly so that the cart is then supported on the end of the body 24 or its bag supporting projection 26 and is in compact folded relationship as shown in Figure 4, whereupon it can be readily stored in a relatively small space or easily transported from place to place.

An extension 21 can be mounted under thesupport 26 so that the cart can be more readily raised off the wheels for a collapsing operation.

Figures 12 to 15 inclusive illustrate a modified form of the invention, in which wheel supporting axles 83 are mounted on plates. which plates are supported by arms 8? similar to the arms 5i of the preferred form. Links 89 cooperate with the arms 87 to keep the wheels in parallel relationship when they are extended or folded.

The body M is in a substantially closed channellike form, and a block 66 is fixed in the upper end of the body, to which a handle Si is pivoted. A link as connects the handle 9i to a slide 93 which moves in the channel 84 and a block 95 is fixed on the channel adjacent its middle portion for supporting the arms 87 and the links cl. The slide 93 isconnected to the arms 8? by means of additional links 9'5, so that when the slide 93 is moved up or down in the channel 8 the links 9? will operate to move the arms 87 and wheels 92 into and out of wheel extended cart supporting position.

Figures 16 to 19, inclusive, disclose a further modification of the invention in which the body comprises an open channel 9Q with a handle $29 pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end. A link 96 connects the handle to a casting 98 slidably mounted in the channel as and this castingpivotally supports arms I93 and links I02 whichare quite similar in construction and operation to arms 50 and links 52 previously described in connection with Figures 1 to 6 inclusive. The casting 90 is slidably supported in the body channel 94 by means ofa transverse pin I I, and the casting 98 is in the form of an open triangle in crosssection, so that the pin fitted in this open space, maintains the casting in the desired position in the channel for proper operation.

The wheel supporting axles I03 are in the form of bell-crank levers similar to the Wheel supporting axles 48 of Figures 1 to 6. When the handle 99 is raised after release of the latch I05, the casting 98 is first moved downwardly to its lowermost position, after which further upward movement of the handle operates to spread the wheels apart while at the same time maintaining them in parallel relationship. The lower end of the link or rod 96 is connected to bifurcated projections I01 integral with the arms I00 whereby the arms are pivoted about supporting pins I09 fixed in the casting 98. This connection includes a plate 18.

In the third modification, illustrated in Figures 20 to 22 inclusive, the body is in the form of an open channel as shown at I04 and an operating handle I08 is pivotally mounted adjacent the top of the body at III. A rod I06 connects the handle I08 to a movable cross bar II3 positioned below a support IIO which is fixedly mounted in the body channel I04. Links I I4 are connected to the end of the bar I I3 and these links operate wheel supporting arms 2 which are pivotally mounted in the support IIO. Additional links II6 have their ends connected intermediate the links H4, and the ends of these links IIB operate the bell-cranks II-B which comprise the wheel supporting axles;

The operating rod I06 passes through an opening in a cross-bar II fixed in the lower end of the support H0 which assists in maintaining the operating rod in desired alignment and position with respect to the handle and the link I I4.

In this modification the casting H0 is fixed in the channel I04 and the entire operation of the wheel supporting arms is accomplished by movement of the handle I08 and corresponding movement of the link rod I06 which operates the arms II 2 through links H4 and H6.

In this structure, as in all the others, the channel-like body is retained, as this comprises a very important feature of the invention, in that a certain amount of flexibility and spring action can take place, due to the fact that the body itself can be twisted through quite an are without permanently deforming the same. This allows of a free action of the wheels when traveling over rough terrain, while at the same time eliminating undesirable jolts due to bumps from being transmitted through the body, the handle and thence to the operator.

It will be evident that, herein is provided, in all its modifications, a golf-bag carrying cart which is readily collapsible or foldable into a relatively small space and in a minimum of time. The fiexible channel-like body performs somewhat like a spring with controlled action, and this action extends from the wheels to the tip of the handle. The entire cart therefore acts as a unit to provide a smooth and easy propelling action. This performance maintains itself over even the roughest fairways, smoothly absorbing all shocks and eliminating bumping and jerking of the handle and supported golf clubs. The natural resistance to torque in the upright channel-like body member provides this very desirable action.

A further feature resides in the perfectly balanced arrangement of the cart, particularly with a supported bag thereon and. which is clearly illustrated in Figure 1. When being propelled, the handle is almost parallel to the ground, placing practically all of the weight just above the wheels, and providing a very low center of gravity, approximately close to the axle mounting. Dropping of the handle closes the entire device almost instantaneously, and lifting of the handle opens the same in as short a-time. When the cart is at rest with the handle raised and the wheels extended, the weight of the clubs is over the axle and the resilient wide wheel base guards against overturning of the cart even when it is on the side of a hill or some other uneven support.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A collapsible golf cart including a channelled body portion, a pair of folding wheels for supporting the body, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on the body for folding relationship therewith, means for automatically moving the wheels into folded relationship when the handle is folded, said means including pivoted axle supporting arms, a link connecting the arms to the handle, and a support for the pivoted axle supporting arms, said support slidably mounted in the body channel.

2. A collapsible golf cart including a channelled body portion, a pair of wheels swingably mounted on the lower end of the body for supporting the same, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on the upper end of the body for folding relationship therewith, means for automatically swinging the wheels into closer relationship with each other when the handle is folded, said means including pivoted axle supporting arms and a link connecting the arms to the handle, a support for the pivoted axle supporting arms slidably mounted in the body channel, the wheel axles comprising bell-cranks and links connecting the bell-cranks to the support.

3. A collapsible golf cart including a body portion, a pair of wheels swingably mounted on the body for supporting the same, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on the body for folding relationship therewith, means for automatically moving the wheels into closer relationship when the handle is folded, said means including pivoted axle supporting arms and a link connecting the arms to the handle, a support for the pivoted axle supporting arms, said support slidably mounted in the body, means connecting the support to the lower end of the handle operated link, means for supporting the entire cart adjacent the lower end of the body with the wheels ofi the ground for wheel and handle folding movement, said means including an extending shelf mounted on the lower end of the body, said shelf also adapted to support a golf bag, means adjacent the shelf for fixing the golf bag in supported position, means adjacent the upper end of the body for releasably fastening the upper end of the golf bag to the body, said wheel axles being in the form of bellcranks and links connecting the ends of the bell-cranks to the support for the pivoted axle supporting arms.

4. A collapsible golf cart including a body portion, a pair of wheels swingably mounted on the body for supporting the same, bell-crank axspam les for the wheels, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on the body for folding relationship therewith, means for automatically moving the wheels into closer relationship and maintaining them in parallel planes when the handle is folded, said means including pivoted wheel axlesupporting arms and a link connecting the arms to the handle, a support for the pivoted axle supporting arms slidably mounted in the body, means connecting the support to the lower end of the handle operated link, means for supporting the entire cart on the lower end of the body with the wheels off the ground, for wheel and handle folding movement, said means including an extending shelf mounted on the lower end of the body, said shelf also adapted to support a golf bag, means adjacent the shelf for fixingthe golf bag in supported position, and means adjacent the upper end of the body for' fastening the upper end of a golf bag to the body.

5. A golf bag carrying cart including a body portion, supporting wheels foldably mounted on the body portion, an operating handle also foldablymounted oh the body portion, said body portion comprising a channel, an axle support slidably mounted in the channel, link'and lever connections between the handle and the wheels for automatically folding the wheels upon a folding movement of the handle, said connections including pivoted arms forthe wheel axles, said wheel axles being in the form of bell-cranks, and links connecting the ends of the bell-cranks to the axle support mounting.

6. A collapsible cart including an elongated twistable body, a handle pivotally mounted at one end of the body, a pair of supporting wheels foldably mounted at the other end of the body, means operated by the handle for bringing the wheels into closer relationship with each other and with the body while maintaining them in parallel planes, said means including a pair of wheel supporting arms pivoted with respect to the body and links connecting the arms to the handle, the support for the arms including a frame slidably mounted in the body.

4 7. A collapsible golf cart inclu ding an elonmaintain the wheels in parallel relationship in both folded and extended position, said parallel linkages, when in cart supporting position, extending downwardly and rearwardly from their point of connection to the body and in their 10 folded position supporting the wheels partly forwardly of the body, a propelling handle pivotally mounted on the body for folding relationship therewith, a link between the handle and the wheel supporting structure, means connecting the upper end of the link to the handle, means connecting the lower end of the link to the inner ends of the parallelogram linkages for the wheels, and a shelf at the lower end of the body for supporting a golf bag and also for supporting the cart with the wheels off the ground for a wheel folding operation.

JOSEPH F. CHAMBERLIN.

REFERENCES 0113131) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 332,757 Seel Dec. 22, 1885 863,972 Ehlers Aug. 20, 1907 899,851 Turner Sept. 29, 1908 1,199,064 Foyer Sept. 26, 1916 2,124,265 Sinnott July 19, 1938 2,326,482 Moifitt Aug. 10, 1943 2,414,017 Carr et a1 Jan. 7, 1947 2,415,392 Morehouse -1 Feb. 4, 1947 2,443,847 Williamson June 22, 1948 40 2,518,803 Marvin Aug. 15, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,897 Australia Apr.-2, 1931 5 401,657 Germany Sept. 6, 1924 810,999 France Apr. 3, 1937 

